Vineyard voters will go to the polls to cast ballots in unusually close elections at the federal, state and local levels on Tuesday.

The closest of them, and one of the hottest contests in the nation, is the race for the 10th congressional district which includes the Cape and Islands. The most recent polling puts the seat, vacant due to the retirement of Democratic Cong. William Delahunt, as too close to call.

The difference between a politician and a statesmen, someone once observed, is that a politician’s time horizon extends only as far as the next election.

So it was in statesman mode that Cong. William Delahunt arrived at the Gazette office last weekend, for perhaps a last editorial board discussion with the newspaper. He will not be a politician anymore after the election. But he will leave, unlike most of the Democrats who (the polls tell us) will be out after this election, at the time of his own choosing.

On Monday, Nov. 15, the Writer’s Guild of America, East Foundation will host a benefit performance of Jules Feiffer: Funny Side Up at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 West 47th street, at 8 p.m.

World Tennis Conference

Connie McHugh, owner and director of the Vineyard Tennis Center Workout and Spa at the airport, recently attended the World Conference on Tennis hosted by the United States Professional Tennis Association. The annual event is the tennis industry’s premier educational experience for tennis professionals. The event was held from Sept. 27 through Oct. 2 at the La Quinta Resort and Club in La Quinta, Calif., and included educational seminars and tennis industry meetings.

Red Stocking is a long-standing Vineyard effort to provide food and clothing to Island children from birth through grade eight. Approximately 375 children were served last year by Red Stocking.

Doubles Trouble, Anyone?

The Vineyard Tennis Center Workout and Spa invites all players for a Halloween One on One extravaganza, featuring a doubles format set to music, with a prize for best costume.

The event will be held Saturday, Oct. 30 from 3 to 5 p.m.; the cost is $25 per player.

Help needy families enjoy Thanksgiving and a December holiday meal.

The Vineyard Committee on Hunger, Serving Hands and Family to Family along with Reliable Market are working together and asking all who are able to sponsor the cost of one family’s meal. Last year this coalition was able to provide over 120 meals for the Thanksgiving and December holidays.

The Island Affordable Housing Fund announced this week that Alan Wiener, a seasonal resident of Edgartown, has joined its board of directors.

Mr. Wiener is the group head of New York-based Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital, a company which specializes in government-sponsored enterprise financing through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac programs and Federal Housing Administration-insured financing.

This fall Island dogs have brought home an array of honors from off-Island agility and rally obedience trials. Two teams — Katy Upson and her Scottish terrier, Dundee; and Valerie Becker and her cairn terrier, Toby — completed the requirements for their rally novice title at the South Shore Kennel Club Show at the Barnstable County fairgrounds on Sept. 18. Earning “legs” toward their rally advanced title were Karen Ogden and her Australian shepherd, Nolan, and Susanna Sturgis and her Alaskan malamute, Travvy.

Promising to enable women to gain financial freedom, find creative fulfillment and enjoy better relationships, Island personal trainer Kimberly Cartwright has created Spiritual Cycling.

This eight-week indoor cycling class for women uses meditation, breath play and guided imagery inspired by renowned psychotherapist Belleruth Naparstek.